The City of Edinburgh Council’s consultation on bus lane operating hours is complete. The outcome is awaited.

Bus stop ‘rationalisation’ (i.e. reducing the number of stops): at the time of writing, we hear that on 27 February the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee will decide on an initial ‘pilot’ on a routes from east to south west Edinburgh. We’re planning to send a deputation to that meeting.

The Council’s Transport and Environment Committee considered a report on bus priority measures on the A90 in June, and instructed officials to return with something better within two committee cycles. However, this has still not happened.

‘Superbus’ design and access: Lothian Buses has received feedback from users on problems with the interior layout of these. It is hoped there will be more definite news in the near future.

Members of the EBUG Committee met Lothian Buses’ management in December to discuss subjects of mutual interest, and agreed to continue meeting on a regular basis.

In February, the Council began a two-month consultation on its ‘City Mobility Plan’ (Local Transport Strategy) for the next ten years. You can send in your own comments here. The EBUG Committee will be involved in the consultation. We’d be interested to hear members’ thoughts, via edinburghbususersgroup@btinternet.com

‘The Scotsman’ revealed that car journeys across the Forth had increased since the new bridge opened. The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee had a session with Transport Scotland officials and others to hear about the Forth Crossing Public Transport Strategy (PTS). The PTS was supposed to progress in parallel with the new bridge, to ensure that it did not just result in extra car journeys. Disappointingly, it was quite clear from the evidence given that progress with the PTS has slow to non-existent.

Lothian Buses fares went up by 10p per journey in February.

We will be holding our first AGM in late May, so keep an eye out for more details!

Construction works to take trams to Newhaven will commence from Newhaven to Melrose Drive on 6 March 2020 and are scheduled to be completed by Summer 2021. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times. All parking and loading on Lindsay Road, Melrose Drive and North Leith Sands will be suspended.

Works will also commence on Ocean Drive, at the front of Ocean Terminal, on 13 March 2020, scheduled to be completed by Autumn 2020. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times. All parking and loading on Ocean Drive and Ocean Way will be suspended. Please note that Ocean Terminal will remain open as usual and access to the car parks will be maintained.

Construction Works
Fencing will be erected in order to establish the construction site which will take approximately two weeks. During this period there will also be further site investigation works undertaken.

Information boards and directional signage will be displayed once the fencing has been erected and the construction site has been established.

Following site set up, Sacyr, Farrans, Neopul (SFN), and Morrison Utility Services (MUS) roles will involve excavation of the road to allow utility diversions, tracklaying, installation of tram infrastructure, public realm improvements, and heritage and archaeology works.

Construction site working hours are Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm.

Ail works will be undertaken in line with the Code of Construction Practice which details, amongst other things, acceptable levels of noise and vibration. The Code of Construction Practice can be found on the project website – www.tramstonewhaven.co.uk.

Lothian Buses
There will be diversions to your bus services during construction. Full details will be available at www.lothianbuses.com and via the Transport for Edinburgh App.

Bins
There will be no changes to your bin collection arrangements.

Other Works
Other associated work will also be taking place at the following locations:

Foot of the Walk to Coatfield Lane — works are continuing and scheduled to be completed by Spring 2021.

Queen Charlotte Street to Constitution Place — works are continuing and scheduled to be completed by Autumn 2020.

Leith Walk — enabling works are continuing and main construction works will commence 28 March 2020 scheduled to be completed by Summer 2021.

Traffic Management
Traffic management arrangements have been approved jointly with members of the city’s Traffic Management Review Panel, including Lothian Buses and the emergency services, and these will be in place from 6 March 2020 for Newhaven to Melrose Drive and 13 March 2020 for Ocean Drive. Access through the site will be maintained for emergency services at all times. Diversion routes and advanced warning signage will be erected in the vicinity for information and detailed drawings for these can be found on the Trams to Newhaven website.

The project will assess the traffic management arrangement throughout the construction period and make amends where required.

Newsletter
To keep up to date with the project’s progress and news, sign up to our mailing list at www.tramstonewhaven.co.uk.

Considerate Contractor SchemeSFN and MUS both follow the principles of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, which requires a firm focus on outstanding management, efficiency, awareness of local environmental issues, and a genuine consideration for neighbours and the community.

During the time that the above works are being undertaken, all efforts will be made to minimise disruption and inconvenience to residents and businesses. Further details can be found athttps://www.ccscheme.org.uk/

19/04966/PAN: 1 – 5 Baltic Street And 7-27 Constitution Street. Public Consultation: Thursday 29 November, Custom House, 3.00pm — 7.00pm. Feedback and planned action from Planning Team to be circulated in Planning Update in early December as no meeting that month.